Nicaragua court postpones hearing for US citizen

MANAGUA, Nicaragua 
A Nicaraguan court has again postponed a hearing for American Jason Puracal, who is accused of laundering money for organized crime.

The 33-year-old man from Washington state has been jailed since November 11, 2010.

Attorney Fabbrith Gomez, who is representing Puracal, said Saturday that the hearing has been reset for June 15 - the third time it has been delayed. Nicaragua's prosecutors office has yet to present evidence against Puracal, Gomez said.

The Illinois native graduated from the University of Washington and served in the U.S. Peace Corps in Nicaragua in 2002. He is accused of laundering money through his Re/Max International real estate franchise in San Juan del Sur on Nicaragua's west coast.

He could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

Puracal's wife Scarleth Flores told AP by phone from the U.S. on Saturday that she has asked for support from the U.S. Embassy in Managua. The embassy could not be reached for comment.